Scottish Parliament

Scottish Parliament is a devolved institution. It was established by the Scotland Act, 1998. The Scottish Parliament can pass laws concerning Scotland on a number of issues like education, health and housing and can raise or lower the basic rate of income tax by up to three pence in the pound. As a result of the nature of devolution, the UK Parliament could make laws that override the acts passed by the Scottish Parliament, but such an event would lead to a serious political crisis.

The Scottish Parliament is made up of 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). One of the 129 MSPs is elected by the others to serve as the Presiding Officer. Two MSPs are elected as Deputy Presiding Officers. The first elections to the Scottish Parliament took place on May 6, 1999.

MSPs can also hold a seat in either the House of Commons, the House of Lords, the European Parliament or represent a ward in their local council. This situation is called dual mandate.